Recent content by cytochrome

I ran across this integral while reading Ashcroft and Mermin's solid state physics book... ∫Θ(f - f(t) )dt = t_max - t_min Where Θ is the heaviside step function and the integral runs from 0 to infinity. Does anyone have any idea how this integral makes sense?

I have some qualitative questions about the relation between band structure, density of states, and Fermi energy (or Fermi level). 1) Say you have a given electronic band structure (energy as a function of k) obtained by any method. How do you relate this to the Fermi energy (or Fermi level) ...

The structure factor in solid state physics (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_factor) apparently gives information on the scattered ray from a lattice. How exactly does it do that? Does a structure factor of zero at certain points imply that rays cannot be scattered in those...

I meant, is there a field of current research on this topic?

I know there are many types of energy and different fields study different types, but is there a field that broadly studies energy transport and conversion? Or a field that studies what energy is at a fundamental level and how it flows? I would think it's under the area of statistical mechanics...

That makes sense. I'm also going for the PhD in mechanical engineering. I will be working on multiscale modeling in solid mechanics. I was wondering if I decided to do a postdoc in some other sort of material science related subject if I would be under qualified or too specialized. But you're...

I am at the point where I have to make a decision for which lab I will join in graduate school very quickly. The thing that scares me, however, is becoming too "specialized" in my decision to be qualified to do research in anything else. Is this the case for graduate school? Once I'm a postdoc...

It seems like two main applications of statistical mechanics in academia research include the application to solid mechanics/materials and the application to heat transfer. How do statistical mechanics and thermodynamics differ in these two aspects? Is it basically the same theory applied to...

The difference between applied physics and engineering is starting to become very minuscule. Typically engineers will do things like you have mentioned though - designing engines, structures etc...

Why not try mechanical or electrical engineering? Both are very physics based and one is based on mechanics while the other is based on E&M

Yeah that's scary stuff... What do you do when this happens?

Mainly just the possibility of him not getting tenure and/or losing his job while I'm halfway through the project. This would make my time in grad school longer than it needs to be.

That makes sense. I guess assistant professors need to try hard to get tenure so they will be very driven to publish lots of papers

Is it a bad idea to choose a PhD adviser who is relatively young and hasn't reached "associate" professor yet? This guy is still an "assistant" professor without tenure. He got his PhD a few years ago so he is pretty new and as a result he does very new and interesting research. Should I not...

Thanks Choppy, that was very informative. In general do you think it is a bad idea to start a PhD thesis with a professor who is not tenured?